హస్త కార్తెలో చల్లితే అక్షింతలకైనా కావు

hasta kartelo challite akshintalakaina kavu

Translation

If sown during the Hasta Karta (lunar mansion), they won't even be enough for sacred rice (Akshantalu).

Meaning

This is an agricultural proverb used to emphasize the importance of timing in farming. It suggests that seeds sown during the 'Hasta Karta' period will yield a very poor harvest, failing to produce even a handful of grains needed for religious ceremonies.

Related Phrases

Even if all other seasons fail, the Hasta rain will not fail.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb related to the lunar mansions (Kartes). It implies that even if the rains fail during other periods, the rains during the 'Hasta Karthe' are reliable and inevitable. In a broader sense, it refers to a dependable final chance or a certainty that one can rely on when everything else fails.

If sown during the Uttara Nakshatra, it will be affected by smut/pests.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb related to the lunar mansion (Nakshatra) calendar. It warns farmers that sowing seeds during the Uttara period often leads to crop diseases like grain smut (Ula), suggesting that the timing is unfavorable for a healthy harvest.

In the Anuradha season, even a lonely piece of wood will give birth.

This is a popular agricultural proverb highlighting the high fertility and favorable weather conditions during the Anuradha Karti (mid-late November). It suggests that the environment becomes so conducive to growth and moisture that even something as dry or inanimate as a piece of wood could metaphorically sprout or bear fruit.

Like a dog in the Chitta rain season (Chitta Karthe).

This expression is used to describe someone who is wandering aimlessly, behaving restlessly, or is extremely agitated. In Telugu culture, it is observed that dogs often become very active, loud, or roam excessively during the specific lunar mansion period known as Chitta Karthe, which usually coincides with the breeding season.

If there is moisture as small as a pearl, even if sown during the Moola Karthi season, the horse gram field will yield crops.

This is an agricultural proverb highlighting the resilience of horse gram (ulavalu). It implies that with even a tiny amount of soil moisture, horse gram can survive and yield a harvest even when sown during the late or less favorable Moola Karthi season. It is used to describe things that are highly resilient or require very little to succeed.

If sown during the Hasta star period, it will not come back to the hand.

This is an agricultural proverb (sameta) referring to the 'Hasta Karthe' (a specific solar mansion in the Hindu calendar). It suggests that crops sown during this specific time period often fail or yield poor results, meaning the investment never returns to the farmer's hand. It is used to highlight the importance of timing and seasonal wisdom.

Even if sesame is sown during the Bharani season, each pod will yield a stick's worth of seeds.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb highlighting the high productivity and auspiciousness of the Bharani Karthi (astrological season) for sesame cultivation. It implies that sesame sown during this specific time results in an exceptionally bountiful harvest, where even a single pod contains an abundant amount of grain.

In the season of Mrigashira Karthe, the courtyards will become cool.

This is a traditional saying related to the Indian astronomical calendar (Karthe). Mrigashira Karthe usually marks the onset of the monsoon season in June. It signifies that after the intense heat of summer, the first rains of this season will finally cool down the earth and the front yards of houses.

If sown during the Chitta rain star period, you won't even get a handful of yield.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb referring to the Chitta Karthe (an astrological period). It suggests that crops sown during this specific time will not yield good results due to unfavorable weather conditions, emphasizing the importance of timing in farming.

If it rains during the Moola Karthi period, the early crops are ruined.

This is a traditional agricultural proverb related to the monsoon cycle. 'Moola' is one of the lunar mansions (Karthulu). It suggests that heavy rains during this specific period are detrimental to the 'Mungaru' (Kharif/early season) harvest, often causing damage to crops that are ready for harvest or in a critical growth stage.